Eleven Guidelines To Frugal Living

Over the years I have read or listened to a number people on the subject of finances. Right at the top of my favorites was, the late Larry Burkett, best known for his daily radio show, "Money Matter's." One of the books that he recomended, was one intended more for moms, but still has some excellent advice, even for us single guys. The book am refering to is, "Mi$erly Moms," by Jonni McCoy. Included in this book are 11 miserly guidelines.

The first thing I did was look at those items in our budget that were not fixed. This was any expense that fluctuated (such as food, gasoline, clothes, utilities, etc). My next plan was to chip away at them.

What resulted from her look at expenses were the following eleven guidelines:

1) Don't confuse frugality with depriving yourself.

If any money-saving activity makes you feel cheap or tight, then you will abandon your savings ways, thinking this is how all saving ways are going to make you feel. That is not the price we need to pay to reach our goals. I don't need to feel tight... There are other ways to save money and keep my dignity. Many people think the two cannot be linked.

2) Give up things that provide the least value.

When I kept track of everything that I spent over a month's time, I was surprised at how many times I had suandred money. This is an activity I recomend to anyone who is serious about saving money.

Those little trips to Target and lunches out at McDonnald's will keep you from reaching your financial goals. It is amazing how much of a drain they are on the budget. When I feel like dropping into the golden arches or going to Target, I remind myself that those trips make things unattainable that are higher in priority on my list. Those trivial buys here and there can wipe out all that you have saved. One lunch per week at a fast food restaurant costs $35 per month (one adult and 2 kids). I could apply that towards a bill or vacation fund.

In order to make things work, I have to make a budget and stick to it. Anything that I want to do that isn't budgeted for has to wait untill I save for it.

3) Keep track of food prices.

I started to keep track of prices on foods in my local stores. At first I started writing down the regular retail price of things that I commonly used at each of the stores. Then I added the best sale price for those items at the same store. By adding the best sale, I created a goal for myself. For every item, I always included the unit price (ounce, pound) so I had an easy comparison. This is important as package sizes vary. Many companies are reducing the size of their containers instead of increasing their prices (i.e. tuna cans used to be 6 1/2 ounces, but are now 6 1/4 ounces).

4) Don't buy everything at the same store.

No one store has the lowest price-not even the warehouse clubs. As I learn more about the art of being miserly, my bills keep dropping.

Also include coupons, when shopping. However, remember only use coupons on items you normally buy, unless the item is cheaper then your usual brand.

5) Buy in bulk wherever possible.

6) make (and grow) your own wherever possible.
I remember as a teenager, my mom making her own baby food by puraying fresh vegies in the blender.

7) Eleminate convenience foods.
prepackaged and frozen meals cost 3-4 times the cost of making it from scratch. At the same time at restaurants costs 6 times of making the same meal from scratch.

8) Cut back on meats and poultry.

9) Waste nothing.

Save all jars that you bought something in (mayonnaise, syrup, etc). Reuse them for your homemade syrups, chocolate sauces, salad dressings, etc.

Save cardboard oatmeal boxes as storage conatiners for dry goods (your homemade granola, bulk items bought from bins, or even small toys).

Save ceral boxes for magazine holders (cut the side off, diagonally).

Ship cookies to friends in Pringles cans. They reduce breakage.

wash out plastic mustard squeeze bottles and fill with homemade colored frosting for cake and cookie decorating.

reuse margarine tubs for food storage.

many people resealable freezer bags by washing carefully and the checking for leaks.

if you make your own baking mixes, save the large dry laundry detergent buckets. Wash out WELL before use.

10) Institute a soup and bread night once a week.

Having soup and bread for dinner once each week helps us to stay within our food budget. Soups are inexpensive to make (when made from scratch), and they are nutitious. There are varity of soups in the world, you could try a new evry week and never repeat a soup recipe all year.

11) Cook several meals at once and freeze them.
Have a "cooking party" once a month with your family and then package and freeze these items, then all you have to do each night is pull one of the meals from the freezer and heat it up.